A review by mattgoldberg
The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker

3.0

Kind of disappointing. It has all the noir and dirty Hollywood tropes, but they don’t add up to anything, so it feels like an homage at best and warmed-over James Ellroy at worst. Phillips’ artwork is gorgeous as always, but it didn’t feel like Brubaker had anything to add to the sub-genre. ‘The Fade-Out’ isn’t really about anything because it never grows beyond its archetypes, so it kind of devolves into nihilism and misanthropy. And sure, those are hallmarks of noir, but the good stories find a way to add their own perspective and pathos.